Inside the Scholarship-Jungle

Inside the Scholarship-Jungle

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Hannah

Hannah

A scholarship can make that dreams come true. Read through our collection of useful hints on where to start this exciting journey!

Imagine there would be someone paying for your studies, eager to assist you with their expertise, and not even having a parentish way of telling you how to live your life. Sounds like a dream? Well, a scholarship can make that dream come true!

A scholarship offers great opportunities in exchange for compassionate work and diligence. Scholarships are a form of honouring students’ qualities not only in a financial way but also through chances for employment, possible internships, and resources for research, learning, and personal growth. Of course, the people aiding you in these ways expect something in return. You don’t need to pay back a scholarship, but being invested in your studies is mandatory. Sometimes the donor of a scholarship expects you to work for them after your studies or looks forward to your engagement in related volunteer work. But when done right, these experiences can be a further opportunity for you to grow.

First, keep in mind…

…that not all scholarships are the same. Therefore, not all scholarships are reserved for (speaking in clichés) people who have done voluntary work since they were ten and only get the best grades. There are so many scholarships for research projects, travel, or specific fields, for certain ages, semesters, or backgrounds. So it’s likely that there is a perfect scholarship for you!

The problem is that finding this perfect scholarship means taking a long journey through a jungle of information, requirements, and funding laws. I made that journey and learned quite a bit about the flora of paperwork, so I can present you with an overview of scholarships in the four countries where our THE FIZZ houses are located!

Foto von George Milton vie Pexels

(Before we dive in, I have a little disclaimer for you: While I am fluent in German and English, I had a harder time researching all the Czech and Dutch funding programmes. Also, all the information is kept relatively broad to limit the length of the article. If some of the information is important to you, do further research to get all the details. 🙂

State-funding-trees

Of course, a country is interested in having well-educated citizens, so state funding isn’t an uncommon thing. Let’s have a look at the state funding opportunities in Germany, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and Austria, where our THE FIZZ Houses are located.

In Germany…

…there are thirteen well-known (and state-advertised) foundations for scholarships. All of them have different requirements and philosophies to provide funding for many different people. Some of the foundations are closely tied to German political parties, while others specifically support students from certain religious backgrounds.
There are also foundations funding excellent students, regardless of religion, political party, or other background.

Here, you can find the official flyer for German scholarship foundations (it is in German though, an official English version was nowhere to be found. 🙁

Inside the Scholarship-Jungle aerial view of berlin skyline with all main landma 2023 04 19 18 37 40 utc

In addition, Germany has a programme for student credits called BaföG (the long version translates to “Federal Training Assistance Act”) that provides financial aid for students in need. This money has to be paid back, but the conditions are very flexible and there are no interest rates. More information can be found here.

Austria…

…has organised state funding for students in many smaller categories. These funding options are mostly organised via the respective school or university. The categories range from funding for studies abroad to financial support during a thesis. A full list (again only in German) you can find here.

Furthermore, there is the “Studienbeihilfe” (study grant) that funds students in Austria who cannot be funded by their parents. The state regularly checks if your grades show a certain dedication to your studies; if they don’t, you will have to pay back the money given to you in the end.

Image Andreas via Pixabay

In The Czech Republic…

…there is a system comparable to the “Studienbeihilfe” from Austria called Sociální Stipendium (social scholarship) that funds students from families with very little income. Universities and colleges also have the opportunity to realise scholarships for their students through the means of public funding. Further information can be found here (though much of it is only available in Czech).

Prague Castle

Netherlands

Similar to other countries, there are many Dutch foundations supporting students, often with certain values and connections to political parties or religious organisations. Financing your studies in the Netherlands can also be done with the DUO Study Financing. The system is tailored to the Dutch educational system. Based on your needs and your educational pathway, you can request and get different fundings. Some of them are gifts; most of them, however, are loans. To find out how exactly your studies can be funded, click here.

Inside the Scholarship-Jungle utrecht netherlands canals at twilight 2021 11 02 19 58 44 utc

Private-funding-plantlife

Besides state-funded scholarships and foundations, there are many companies with an interest in helping young talents achieve their goals. Some companies have scholarship programmes to fund students in their branches; some fund those who agree to work for them afterwards; and some private scholarship donors are looking for a very small range of people with certain skills, character traits, or experiences. To find the perfect scholarship, you can have a look at one of these websites or ask the internet yourself:

Foto von Michael Burrows via Pexels

International-scholarship-flowers

As I have mentioned in my article on studying abroad, visiting other countries to learn something and advance your studies is always a plus. When your plans lead you beyond national borders, special funding opportunities lay on your way.

The most well-known programme for international studies in Europe is surely the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union. Erasmus+ right now is in the middle of its second funding phase, with an estimated budget of €26.2 billion. That is a lot of money for a lot of stories, experiences, and study adventures. All information can be found on their website.

Image by Martín Alfonso Sierra Ospino via Pexels

But besides the Erasmus+ programme, many countries have their own funding programmes and partnerships with other countries or universities abroad, to provide scholarships for international studying. In the end, not only does the student profit from the experience, but the international economy has an interest in successful students too! So, wherever you want to go and no matter where you come from, do some research for specific scholarships and don’t be shy about applying to them! 

Your own Expedition

Countries, foundations, and companies have an interest in funding bright students. Keep in mind that this does not mean only perfect people get scholarships (not to mention that “perfect people” is kind of a paradox). People are on the lookout for motivation, cleverness, and new ideas regarding your passion, and often provide help to tackle obstacles. So now that you have a little orientation in the scholarship jungle, take this as motivation, pack your browser, check your CV, and find your perfect scholarship!

All photo rights by International Campus GmbH.